Full Cave ... Finally

[sskasser]

Woo hoo! Way to go!

[graepaep]

Thanks guys.

I haven't used the sidemount config in open water or on a boat yet so I'll keep that in mind. Thanks

[FW]

Thanks guys.

I haven't used the sidemount config in open water or on a boat yet so I'll keep that in mind. Thanks

Side mount works everywhere, just ignore them

[saxplayer1004]

It works, but I still prefer to be in backmount with my open water students, it's easier to run in and out of the water, and in the keys it's easier for single tanks...
Sidemount rocks though, congrats again

[Sludge]

It works, but I still prefer to be in backmount with my open water students,

Wouldn't it be breaking standards to be in ANY configuration other than a single backmounted cylinder when you are teaching open water?

[adam0321]

I enjoy SM diving alot. but it is nice to have a set of doubles in the truck incase I dive with a BM group. That way we can all be in the same config.

[saxplayer1004]

NAUI allows us to be in doubles. Our university has a waiver for that, we don't have to have snorkels either and we are allowed to have the instructors/ai's in full face masks so we can communicate with the students better. Granted every time we actually try to use them we get ticked and put them away, but still.
The AI's can be in any configuration they want so long as it's open circuit. We have an instructor who can't carry backmount so he's in sidemount the whole time.
The DSO here has had an interesting bout with the agencies that allows him the leniency in teaching open water comparable to that of a full cave instructor, which he is. Even the stuff we make the students do at OWT is frowned upon by NAUI, but they know they can't/won't stop him from doing it. So we have fun meetings with the regional directors every year. I'm certainly not complaining about it, it allows me to be much more comfortable in the water in doubles rather than singles. I'll double check the NAUI books to see what they actually say, it's been a while since I've had to care... I'm far more concerned with irritating my boss than NAUI though... He's scary

[Sludge]

My mother, who will be 80 in May, can't walk with a cylinder any more. So her buddy (usually me) carries her BC to the water and she puts it on in the water. Really complicated.

[saxplayer1004]

sounds like when I dive with my buddy. But he's 40 and has a bad back. Apparently it's immensely comical to watch me carry a set of doubles on my back, clutching his doubles in front of me, in a drysuit when it's cold and run into and out of the water... Good lord can I not wait for him to get into sidemount. uggh.
that's awesome your mom is still diving at 80 though! that's impressive

[graepaep]

For regular OW dives (spearfishing and pretty fish dives) I still use a single back mount and a small pony bottle. I will, however, probably start doing my lobster dives in sidemount.